George h



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-#Sheet l.

L G. ECOLLEY.'

SB WING MACHINE.

No. 549,185 Patentedmov. 5, 1895.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G.H. 00LLEY. l SEWING MACHINE. No. 549,185. Patented Nov. 5, 1895.

WW1/woo@ (No Model.) y 4 sheens-sheer a-..

G. H. C'OLLBY SEWING MACHINE.

.Patented 1\I w.5,1895.

mvawboz ANDREW RGRMMM. PHUTO-LmiWASMINGIDN. UC.

(No Model.) 4 sham-:sheer 4v. G. H. COLLEY.

SEWING MACHINE.

@ma Nov. 5, 1895.

T M. Y

INVENTOR UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. COLLEY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, A SSIGNOR TO THE VEEKS COLLEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Ifvatent No. 549,185, dated November 5, 1895.

To all whom lf/'may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. COLLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in sewing-machines, but more particularly to such machines as employ an overseaming or zigzag stitch.

Heretofore it has been customary in the manufacture of corsets and the like to close by hand the open ends of the binding-strips used on such articles. This consumes considerable time,` thereby involving extra eX- pense, which it is always desirable to reduce to a minimum, and which is an important matter to be taken into consideration in a manufactured article, and, moreover, such hand-work is usually uneven in finish and the work necessarily unsatisfactory.

The primary object of my invention is to provide means attached to a sewing-machine whereby the ends of such binding-strips may be readily and effectually closed; to provide means for giving a step-by-step movementto to the object; to provide means for feeding the object in either direction, so that one row of stitches may be made to cross the preceding row to more effectually close the ends of the strips; to provide means whereby the step-by-step mechanism may be automatically shifted to change the direction of the feed; to provide a clamp which will rigidly hold and align the object so as to be properly and positively fed; to provide a thread-tension-releasing device operated simultaneously with the releasing' of the clamp, and to provide means for retainingthe clamp in a raised position. l

A further object is to provide simple, effective and durable mechanism which may be applied to various designs of machines and which may be adjusted'todifferent requirements.

Vith these and other objects in view the Application led December 18, 1894. Serial No. 532,165. (N0 modem the relative position of the needle-bar and tensionereleasing device to the other parts of the invention. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line III III of Fig. 4L. Fig. 4isavertical. longitudinal section through the clamp and feed-operating mechanism with a portion of the machine broken away. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the forward end of the clamp. Fig. 6 is an inverted plan of the top plate of the clamp. Fig. 7 is a plan of a portion of the foot-plate of the clamp. Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIII VIII of Fig. 8, illustrating the means for yieldingly retaining the pawl in different positions. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a modified forni of mechanism for giving a step-by-step movement to the rack-bar. Fig. l0 is a plan view of the rack-bar, and Fig. ll is a transverse section of the rack-bar taken on the line ll 1l of Fig. 10.

1n the drawings, A may designate a workplate or Qbed, B the overhang-ing arm, C the head of the arm, D the needle-bar, having a reciprocating and vertical movement and carrying the needle d d, the link connected to a cam-actuated lever d2, E the driving-Wheel secured to the driving-shaft which operates the needlebar, and F the vertical shaft for operating the shuttle mechanism G through the pitman g, all of which may be of any suitable construction and operated in the usual and well-known manner.

The bed A has a frame H, arranged upon the upper surface thereof, provided with a groove in which a rack-bar h is adapted to slide back and forth, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Ath is a plate removably secured by screws or otherwise to the upper surface of the rackbar and having its inner end forming one IOO side of a dovetailed recess in which is arranged the rear end or shank of the foot-plate 'i of the clamp I, so that by loosening or removing the screws which secure the plate 7L to the rack-bar, and thus loosening the clamp, the latter may be adjusted lengthwise of the machine. This `clamp has the top plate Z2, which is secured by the spring or springs t3 to the foot-plate-supporting arm z', the footplate serving to support the material and to align the same. The said foot-plate-supporting arm extends to the rack-bar parallel with but underneath the spring which supports the top plate, being secured to said rack-bar as described, said arm being offset at 4, so that its forward end or the foot-plate secured to said end may rest upon the bed of the machine. The foot-plate is provided with an L-shaped end and an upwardiy-extending lip ZG, which passes through an elongated slot i7 of the top plate i2 and serves to align the material when placed between said top plate and foot-plate. This top plate has a depending tooth-edged bar or rib is on the under side thereof which rigidly holds the material to the foot-plate, the elongated slot 'Z2 of said plate being of sufficient length and width to permit proper movement of the clamp and the needle (Z, which passes through said slot.

The rack-bar ZL, before referred to, is provided with teeth which are in mesh with a segmental or other form of gear j, secured to theend of shaft or stud ,72, which -is journaled transversely of the frameH, the said gear or stud, as the case may be, having a handle j" for moving the rack in either direction independently of any mechanism. On the studj2, between the sides ji j* of the frame H, are secured a pair of ratchet-wheels 7c Zt', having oppositely-arranged teeth which are adapted to be engaged by the oppositely-acting teethZ Z of the pawl L. The pawl is pivoted to rocking arm Z2 by a screw or bolt Z2 and is held so as to cause either of the teeth of said pawl to engage their respective ratchet-wheels by a springpressed pin Z4, (shown in Fig. 8,) said rockingarm Z2 being loosely mounted or pivoted on the stud j2, so as to move freely thereon. The pin Z* is pointed Aat one end and is supported on the rocking arm Z2 bythe recessed projection Z5, which is secured to said lever, the pin being normally pressed toward the pawl by a spring Z, which is arranged in the recess of the `projection Z5 and which surrounds said pin, the said pointed end of Athe pin `being adapted to engage indentations in the pawl, so as to retain the tooth Z in contact with the teeth of the Vratchet-wheel Z0 or `the tooth Z in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel k, according to the position of said pawl. The rocking arm Z2 has an upwardlyextending arm Z7, which is provided with a slot Z2, adapted to be engaged by a bolt m, carried by the end of a link m, the latter connecting the rocking arm Z2 with the rocklever M, through which the said rocking arm is moved on its pivot. This `link has its end radially adjustable in the slot ZS by simply turning the thumb-nut m2, 'arranged on the end of the bolt fm, and which serves to bind said bolt in the slot, so that different adjustments may be secured to vary the throw of the pawl and consequently the length of each movement of the clamp.

The rock-lever M is pivoted to the frame H and has a forked lower end which is passed through an elongated slot in the frame and the bed of the machine and spans a cam n, which is secured to a horizontal shaft f/t, said shaft being located beneath the bed A and journaled in brackets n2 u2, depending from said bed. This shaft `has a miter-gear n3 on one end thereof, which is in mesh with a like gear a4, secured to the vertical shaft F, by which the said horizontal shaft is rotated.

For automatically shifting the pawl L to change the direction of the feed, I provide a pair of standards 0 o', arranged on opposite` sides of said pawl and carried by the rackbar Zz. In these standards are arranged the thumb-screws o2 03, on which are the handlock nuts o4 o5, which hold the screws in a fixed position when once adjusted, the said screws having their inner ends in a path of a projection o, which extends outwardly from the pawl L, so that as the standards travel back and forth with the rack-bar the ends of said screws will contact with the projection o and shift the `position of the pawl, according to the direction of movement oi the rack-bar. The rack-bar is prevented from moving too easily by a friction-brake which may consist of a curved spring o7, the ends of which `contact with the upper surface of a portion of said bar. This brake is provided with a central boss o8, which is engaged by the end of a thuinb-screwof, which passes through a threaded aperture of the boss 010, so that the tension of the spring may be varied to secure the desired pressure on said rack-bar.

The top plate of the clamp I `is preferably raised by the action ofthe cam-block p, which is secured to the end of a shaft or stud p', said shaft being j ournaled in a bracket or upright p2, secured to and carried by the footplate t' of the clamp. The cam is provided with two iiat surfaces, so that by turning the handle p3, which is secured to one end of the shaft, the cam will be caused to lift the spring' i3 of the top plate and retain the saine in this position, owing to the pressure of said spring, which rests on the ilat surface of `the cam, being in an approximately vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 4. This movement of the top plate simultaneously operates on a tensionreleasing lever R, which is pivoted to the head C of the overhanging arm. The lever R has its upperend wedge-shaped, so as to spread the tension-disks r r apart to release the thread and to prevent its breaking, `the lower end of said lever being retained incontact with the top plate "Z2 of the clamp by the IOO IIO

spring r. This arrangement prevents the thread being broken while operating the clamp, and at the same time no separate movement is necessary to release said thread.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be seen, when the article is placed in the position shown in Fig. 5, that by starting the machine avertical and reciprocatory movement will be given the needle and needle-bar D at the same time rotary motion is imparted to the shaft n', which, by means of the cam n, will rock the lever M on its pivot. This movement of the lever M gives movement to the rocking-arm Z2, which carries the pawl L, causing the latter to give movement to the stud jg, by engaging the ratchet-wheels Zo Zd. In the position shown, the tooth Z of the pawl engages the ratchetwheel 7c, giving a step-by-step movement to the rack-bar toward the front of the machine by means of the segmental gear j, which is in mesh with the teeth of said rack-bar. The rack-bar will continue to move in this direction until the end of the screw 02 contacts with the projection 0i of the pawl L, which will shift the latter on its pivot, so as to have the tooth Z/ engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel k', thereby causing the rack to move in the opposite direction, so that the second row of stitches may cross those already made, the said pawl being yieldingly retained in either position by the spring-pressed pin Z4. By this construction the row of stitches may be caused to repeatedly crossA each other, or the feed may be stopped or started in any desired position by the handle and segmental gear y.

It is not my intention to confine myself to the construction or arrangement shown, as this may be varied and other means may be employed for giving the step-by-step motion to the clamp; nor do I confine myself in the application of my invention to any particular kind of machine, as the feed mechanism is independent of any particular shuttle or needle operating mechanism. rlhe ratchet-wheels 7c and Zt" and the segmental gear may be dispensed with in some instances, and the doubleacting pawl L made to engage directly with ratchet or other teeth arranged on the rackbar. As shown in Figs. 9 to ll, Sheet 4, the rack-bar has two series of teeth r and r', located on opposite sides of the face of said rackbar for the purpose of moving the same either forward or rearward, according to which series of teeth is engaged by the pawl, movement being imparted to said pawl in substantially the same manner as heretofore described.

The screws o2 and o3 contact with the projec-` The rock-lever IWI may be operated in some instances directly from the shuttle-driving mechanism and the additional counter-shaft n thereby dispensed with. Other changes may be made,'if found desirable, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In a sewing machine, the combination with suitable stitch-forming mechanism, of a clamp adapted to hold the article to be stitched; said clamp being arranged to move transversely of the machine toward either side thereof, and mechanism for imparting a step by step movement to said clamp, comprising a rack-bar for moving the clamp, a rocking arm, a double-acting pawl pivotally mounted upon said arm and adapted to impart motion to said rack-bar, and a driving'shaft and intermediate mechanism for imparting movement to said pawl, together with means for positively shifting the pawl at a predetermined point in its movement in either direction, so as to reverse the direction of motion of said rackbar and clamp, substantially as described.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with suitable stitch-forming mechanism, of a rack-bar arranged to move transversely of the machine toward either side thereof, a clamp movable with said rack-bar and adapted to rigidly hold the article tobe stitched, a rocking-arm, a double-acting pawl pivoted to said rocking-arm for giving a step by step -movement to the rack-bar in either a forward or backward direction, a rock-lever pivoted to the frame and a linkconnecting said rocklever and rocking-arm, together with mechanism for giving movement to said rock-lever and rocking-arm and devices for reversing the movement of the Yrack-bar as it reaches the limit of its movement in either a forward or backward direction, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a clamp, a rack-bar carryin g said clamp and slidingly held in a frame, a gear engaging the rack-bar and secured to a shaft journaled in the frame, ratchet wheels with oppositely arranged teeth rotating with said gear, a rocking-arm loosely mounted on said frame, a double-acting pawl pivoted to the rocking-arm and adapted to engage said ratchet wheels, and means for operating the rocking-arm, together with means for reversing the pawl and ratchet mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination with suitable stitch-forming mechanism, of a clamp adapted to bind and rigidly hold the article to be stitched, a rack-bar to which the clamp is secured slidingly held in a frame, a gear secured to a shaft journaled in the frame and in mesh with the teeth of said rack-bar, ratchet wheels with oppositely arranged teeth secured to the shaft, a rocking-arm and a double-acting pawl pivoted to said rockingarm, a rock-lever connected to the rocking- IOO IIO

arm, together with acam and operating mechanism therefor for operating the rock-lever so as to give movement to said rack-bar, and means for shifting said pawl so as to reverse the movement of the rack-bar, whereby a step-by-step motion either forward or backward may be given to the clamp, substantia-lly as described.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with suitable stitch-forming mechanism, of a clamp adapted to bind and rigidly hold the article to be stitched, a rack-bar to which the clamp is secured, a rocking-arm, a doubleacting pawl pivotally secured to the rockingarm for giving a step-by-step movement to said rack-bar, means for operating said rocking-arm, together with means carried by the rack-bar for automatically shifting the position of the pawl at a predetermined point in its movement in either direction, whereby the direction of movement of the clamp may be changed, substantially as described.

t.f In a sewing machine, the combination with suitable stitch-forming mechanism, of a clamp adapted to bind and rigidly hold the article to be stitched, a rack-bar slidingly held in a frame to which the clamp is secured, a rockin g-arm pivoted to the frame, mechanism for rocking said arm,a double-acting pawl pivoted to said rocking-arm so as to vibrate therewith and impart a step by step movement to said rack-bar, and means for yieldingly're-` taining said pawl in different positions on said rocking-arm, together with standards arranged on the rack-bar and having adjustable means adapted to contact with a portion of the pawl at predetermined points,whereby the direction of movement of the clamp may be automatically changed, substantially as described,

7. In a sewing machine, a clamp comprisin g a top-plate and a f oct-plate yieldingly connected together, the top-plate being provided with a depending tooth-edged rib and a slot for the passage of the needle, and the footplate being provided with an angular lip adapted to project upwardly through the slot of the top-plate, whereby the article to be clamped may be rigidly held and properly aligned, substantially as described..

S. In a sewing machine, the combination i with the frame and suitable stitch-forming mechanisimof a rack-bar arran ged to slide forward and back on said frame, a clamp carried by the rack-bar and means for imparting a forward and back step-by-step motion thereto, together with a spring friction brake arranged to contact with a smooth surface o'l the rack-bar while the latter is moving in either direction, so as to steady the same and prevent any uneven movement thereof and mea-ns for regulating the tension ot said spring, substantially as described.

9. In a sewing machine, a clamp for hold.- ing the material to be stitched, consisting ot' a foot-plate or cloth support having a supporting arm which extends to a movable clamp-.carrying bar to which said arm is secured, a spring also secured at one end to said bar arranged over and parallel with said arm but separated therefrom between the extremities of the two parts and having a topplate at its free end arranged above and yieldingly pressed into close proximity to said foot-plate so as to bind and hold the material while the clamp is bein gmoved by said clamp carrying bar, and a cam rotatably mounted below said spring and between the same and said foot-plate supporting arm, and means for rotating said cam so as to raise and hold the top-plate in an elevated position when desired, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE II. COLLEY. lVitiiesses:

A. B. NEWMAN, E. J. WEEKS. 

